Wednesday, March 23, 2016

In February, the Charlotte, North Carolina City Council approved changes to the city's Non-Discrimination Ordinance. According to a City Council press release issued in February, the changes "add marital and familial status, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity to the list of protected characteristics in the existing Non-Discrimination Ordinances." As reported then by Al.com, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said he would fight the Ordinance that is scheduled to go into effect on April 1. Now the legislature is apparently poised to implement that fight in a special session of the legislature called for today. Yesterday, Lt. Governor Dan Forest issued a press release announcing:

Senate and House leaders announced Monday they have obtained the necessary three-fifths majority in both chambers and will convene a special session on Wednesday to address a radical Charlotte City Council ordinance allowing men to share public bathrooms and locker rooms with young girls and women.

The announcement from the legislative leaders said: "We aim to repeal this ordinance before it goes into effect to provide for the privacy and protection of the women and children of our state." Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina issued a release calling the special session a costly and outrageous step.